I'm still here.

I've been hibernating. No, actually my computer at home was down and it is my deadline time at work. So I have been working hard and working weekends. But this Friday it will be over for another six months. Thanks goodness I only have two deadlines a year. I don't think I could handle the stress of more. And it is getting close to my Mom's birthday. The first since she passed. I try not to dwell on it but there are times I just can't help but sit and cry. Of course it isn't for long. How can I when this silly guy comes over, climbs in my lap and starts licking my face? That sweet goofy face will make me smile every time.
I have also been working hard with Rory on his training. His first real confirmation show is this coming Saturday. the 26th. I'm getting nervous and have to do my best not to let it show. It should just be fun for him. Win or lose. It doesn't matter. Just as long as he has fun. The picture above is him doing one of his "tricks". This is his interpretation of playing dead! I love it. Oh, and he will also say his prayers and we are working on high five. Of course we do those silly tricks after we have worked on the basic obedience and show handling. The tricks are for fun and he loves doing them.

On the stitching front I haven't been getting a lot done. But since it has been three weeks since I have posted this will look like a lot. I am hoping I might even get BBD's Awake the Dawning Day finished. I only have some words and the specialty stitches to do.

As for Lauren's Voice (see my previous posts) I didn't take a photo because even though I am so close to finishing I was working on the last side of the border and find I am off too much to fudge it. For the life of me I can't find the mistake but I can at least make it less noticeable. So I probably have a few hours of frogging to do on that one.

Another piece I am working on is the Sampler Lady by LHN. Here is my progress on that one as of yesterday afternoon. This one is being done as a SAL on the yahoo group for LHN. I probably won't make the deadline which is the end of September (Yikes! Only 9 more days!) but I will give it a try. I am going to concentrate on this one for the next week and see where I am on the weekend.

I did finish one piece over the last three weeks but it is an exchange so no photos until it reaches its new home.

Before I go back to work I wanted to share one more "Rory Story" with you all. I hope you will find it as amusing as I do.

About a quarter of a mile from my house is a baseball stadium for a minor league team known as the Long Island Ducks. They love to hold displays of fireworks during the summer months. So quite often on a Friday or Saturday night at 9 or so loud booms will disturb the night. Well, they have been rather quiet since July and I don't think Rory has heard them until a week ago. Monday night we go to bed at 10 (I am up at 4:30 am) and turn off the lights when BOOM! Rory starts barking and charging the bedroom door. So I take him outside so he can see what all those loud noises are. We get out there and you can, of course, hear the fireworks and see them as well from my back deck. Rory goes ballistic. Barking and jumping up at the sky! I swear he is trying to catch the colored lights!! He's goes from the deck to run to the corner of the yard and back to the deck barking and jumping the entire time. I start laughing. I can't help it. This goofy nut wants to catch the fireworks! I so wish I could get a picture of that antic. Oh and the Ducks had more fireworks on Tuesday and again this past Saturday. Here he is watching a plane yesterday afternoon. Anything that moves in the sky and especially if it makes noise. I am hoping that when Rory is in the ring next weekend a plane will fly overhead and he will stand beautifully to watch it.

I want to apologize for not being around much the past three weeks or commenting on the blogs. Heck I haven't even been checking many and I am going through bloggy withdrawal. That will change next week. I promise. I miss you all and really can't wait to see what everyone's been up to. I also want to thank you all for all your support and wonderful comments. I treasure each one. And even if I don't say it often enough, Thank you and Bless you all.

Now I better take some excedrin and get back to work. Keep your fingers crossed for Rory and I this coming weekend and I hope we will have good news to share.

Love and stitches
Kathy
and licks from Rory too.